Obama announced Wednesday night the expansion of U.S. military action in Iraq and Syria to target ISIS. The radical group is responsible for the executions of journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and the rape, torture and murder of thousands of Iraqi and Syrian people.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said she will be pressing the Obama administration to use all of the tools at the president’s disposal, short of ground troops.

“I have consistently called for a serious, comprehensive strategy to destroy ISIS that includes strong U.S. leadership of an international coalition, increased assistance to partner forces battling ISIS on both sides of the Iraq-Syria border, and intensified efforts to deny the group access to the funding and the foreign fighters that sustain its operations and pose the greatest threat to the United States,” Shaheen said in a written statement.

Sen. Kelly Ayotte said she’s heard tough talk from the president before, but she’s hoping this time, there is action to back up his words.

“I appreciate that the president has finally said clearly that we must destroy ISIS and that he outlined some important steps toward that goal – including expanded airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, which I have previously called for,” Ayotte said. “Any effective strategy must include tougher measures to ensure that Americans and western passport holders who have joined ISIS cannot enter the United States of America.”

“It will not involve American combat troops fighting on foreign soil,” Obama said. “This will be a steady, relentless effort to take out ISIL wherever they exist using our air power, and our support for partners' forces on the ground.”

In addition to several hundred American military advisers already in Iraq, Obama is sending 475 soldiers who will support Iraqi and Kurdish forces with training, intelligence and equipment.

“Already allies are flying planes with us over Iraq, sending arms and assistance to Iraqi security forces and the Syrian opposition, sharing intelligence and providing billions of dollars in humanitarian aid,” Obama said.

Leading up to the speech, the president faced criticism from opponents for how he has dealt with ISIS.